Retired Covenant pastor Walter Berg passed away in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Friday, January 19, 2024. He was 93.
Walter David Berg was born to parents Henry and Susanna Berg in their family
farmhouse in Marion, South Dakota, on May 4, 1930. At the age of 24, he asked Christ into his life.
Following his baptism in May of 1954, Walter began his education in preparation for the ministry. He attended Freeman Junior College and Grace Bible Institute, earning a Bible diploma in 1958. He was ordained by the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Conference in 1961. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1969, then earned his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1974. He transferred his ordination to the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1975.
During Walt’s early years of study, he married Esther Alice Ortmann in Marion on August 17, 1956. Together with Esther, Walt pastored Floodwood Bible Chapel (1960-64), Cromwell United Methodist (1962-70), Barnum United Methodist (1964-68), Moose Lake Evangelical Covenant Church (1967-70), Fox Lake United Church of Christ (1970-74), back to Moose Lake Covenant (1974-88), Hill City United Methodist (1988-93), Big Lake Evangelical Covenant Church (1993-2000), and Kerrick Community Church (2002-2008). They served together in ministry for 50 years until Esther’s passing in October 2006.
Following Esther’s death, Walt attended a high school class reunion in Marion, which led to a renewed relationship with a high school sweetheart, Loretta (Ratzlaff) Harris, whose spouse had also died. Walt and Loretta were married on December 6, 2008, and Walt moved to Loretta’s home in Oklahoma City.
Walt was preceded in death by his first wife, Esther. He is survived by his wife, Loretta; children Cynthia Claus (Kevin), Craig (Denise), Dean, and Dianne (Suzy); stepchildren Kyle Claus (Dawn), Debbie Starr (David), and Bill Harris (DeAnna); six grandchildren, several step-grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Walter’s life was held on January 27, 2024, at South Lakes Chapel in Oklahoma City. He was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Moose Lake, Minnesota.
Peace to his memory.
